PNG flog USA to advance to World Cup quarter-finals

Papua New Guinea have qualified for the Rugby League World Cup quarter-finals with a 64-0 thrashing of the USA and unveiled a potential future star in Lachlan Lam in the process.

Lam was crowned man of the match in the 11-tries-to-one rout in Port Morseby after scoring two tries and setting up another in his international debut as the Kumuls confirmed they would finish top of group C.

It means they will likely meet England in the knockout stage in Melbourne next week however the big talking point was the arrival of highly rated five-eighth Lam.

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"It was an experience. The boys have been ramping me up all week," Lam said.

"They got behind me and gave me all the confidence that I needed. Obviously I got a few meat pies too which was also pretty special.

"It went pretty quick to be honest. It was a month of waiting but the time flew. The boys prepared me for the moment and it just felt like the weeks were short.

Lam, the son of PNG great Adrian, was a standout in the biggest game of his burgeoning career.

The Sydney Roosters-contracted 19-year-old regularly took on the line and made a compelling case for coach Michael Marum to include him in his side during the finals.

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While Ase Boas is expected to come straight back into the line-up next week, Lam will push for a spot somewhere in the 17.

The Kumuls do have a concern after winger Garry Lo finished the game on the bench with a left knee injury after colliding with Bureta Faraimo.

Lam opened the scoring when he crossed on the back of a James Segeyaro break and when the Cronulla hooker grabbed a four-pointer of his own in the 13th minute, the Kumuls were scoring at better than a point a minute.

Lam, who is being touted as a future NRL and Queensland State of Origin representative, showed his class when he broke through the line for a brilliant solo try as the home side led 34-0 at the break.

When skipper David Mead pinned the ears back to score two minutes after the resumption, the game was as good as over.

Winger Justin Olam scored three tries - including a double in the final 14 minutes - to complete the thrashing.